The University of Washington Bothell Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. Program is designed to meet the requirements established by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for Residency Certification and endorsements in Biology, English/Language Arts, History, Mathematics, and Social Studies. The Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program also aligns with the academic policies of the Graduate School of the University of Washington. In order to be recommended for certification and a Master of Education degree, students must satisfactorily complete all program requirements.

Students are expected to complete all courses and field experiences as a contributing member of their cohort. Students who do not complete all program requirements with their cohort may reapply to the program. If they are readmitted, they will be expected to begin the program again as a contributing member of a new cohort.

Academic Performance

Students are responsible for being aware of all academic policies and deadlines as published in the Education Program Master of Education Handbook, University of Washington Bothell Catalog, quarterly university bulletins, University of Washington Graduate School Policies and Procedures, and the University of Washington Student Code.

Individual Courses

Based on the University of Washington Standard Grading System, the Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory (S/NS) option is not available for required courses in the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed., and courses taken S/NS will not count towards fulfilling certification requirements. With the approval of his or her graduate program advisor, a student may elect to take any course for which he or she is eligible outside of his or her major academic unit on an S/NS basis. Neither S or NS is included in the cumulative grade point average.

University policies for granting Incomplete or X grades apply to UW Bothell Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. courses. An Incomplete is given only when the student has been in attendance and completed satisfactory work until within two weeks of the end of the quarter and has furnished satisfactory evidence to the instructor that the work cannot be completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond the student’s control.

Because this program builds on the knowledge and skills from previous quarters, students who must take an Incomplete or receive an X grade will be expected to complete all work for the course by the start of the next quarter.

No credits from other universities or other teacher certification programs may be transferred to the UW Bothell Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program as a substitute for any certification requirements.

To fulfill master’s degree requirements, a student may petition the Dean of the Graduate School for permission to transfer the equivalent of a maximum of six (6) credits of graduate level coursework taken while a registered graduate student in another recognized graduate school. These credits may not have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree. Credit by independent study, through correspondence, distance learning, or advanced credit examinations is not transferable.

Satisfactory Progress in the Program

As a cohort program, courses and field experiences build upon the work of previous quarters. Students are required to complete all program requirements in sequence with their cohort. Students must be aware that failing a course and/or falling short of program expectations in the field will have serious consequences for their status in the program. Academic or field problems must be addressed when they arise. Students, faculty and staff may each initiate a Guidance and Support Team (GST) when problems do arise that could jeopardize the students’ ability to finish the program.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the program. If an student falls below a 3.0 GPA at the end of any quarter, procedures established by the Graduate School will be followed. The candidate will be placed on academic probation and a GST will be formed to develop an academic plan or, in severe cases, the candidate will be dismissed from the program without a period of probation.
Students must pass the required number of field observations per quarter and successfully complete all field assignments. They are responsible for being in their assigned schools during all hours that they are assigned.

Because the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. includes a professional certification, grades in courses and evaluations of required field observations constitute only part of maintaining satisfactory progress in the program. Students will also be evaluated quarterly on their professional disposition in the following categories:

Classroom demeanor

Legal and ethical considerations

Attitudes towards children

Racial, gender, and ethnic attitudes

Relationships with other professionals and staff

Degree of interest or enthusiasm

Initiative

Interpersonal, social and behavioral competency essential for the teaching profession

On Leave and Deferral of Admissions

When an student in good academic standing faces unexpected circumstances that keep him or her from completing the program, he or she may request a period of being “on leave” from the program that would commence at the end of a given quarter.
On-Leave Status request must be made in writing to the Program Director and include a University of Washington Graduate School Petition of On-Leave Status form, and a $35.00 fee.

If approved, the student will be invited to resume courses and field work with another cohort, when necessary coursework not yet completed is offered again.

Admissions offers are for a particular cohort. Accepted applicants who cannot begin the program with the cohort to which they applied may reapply again at a later date.

All program requirements must be completed within six (6) calendar years (72 months).

Did You Know?

Nine out of 10 of UW Bothell's 14,000 alumni live and work in the state of Washington.